Syrian president Bashar al Assad has only "a few weeks" left in control of the strife-torn country, Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak told lawmakers Monday.

"The Assad family has no more than a few weeks to remain in control in Syria," Barak told the parliament's prestigious foreign affairs and defense committee in remarks quoted by the committee spokesman.

"There is no possibility in the current situation of evaluating what will happen the day after Bashar's fall," he said.